For Korean War veterans, getting recognition for their service 65 years ago has not been easy. Even though at least 2.5 million people lost their lives during the conflict between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), it has been overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War in the pages of American history.

Coverage of the conflict was censored during the early 1950s, a big reason it came to be called The Forgotten War. Even though 36,568 Americans were killed and 103,284 wounded in the fighting between 1950-53, most history books have scant coverage.

A recent ceremony to honor 43 Korean War veterans at the Schuylkill County Courthouse — an event collaborated on by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and the Schuylkill County Veterans Affairs office — was well-deserved. Though most of the veterans are now in their 80s and early 90s, each one in attendance received an Ambassador for Peace medal courtesy of the Korean government.

About 600 veterans from across the state have received the medals, thanks to Sen. Toomey, whose initiative helps ensure that our Korean veterans aren’t being forgotten.

Last week, a younger veteran from the modern era was also recognized at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention in Las Vegas. Brian Jason, who had three military tours in the Persian Gulf, won a national contest called the True American Hero Truck Giveaway.

He was chosen from some 5,000 people nominated from the uniformed and emergency services. Helping promote the event was Herschel Walker, who last year partnered with Rocky Ridge Trucks headquartered in Georgia, for the truck giveaway. Walker presented Jason with the keys to his new customized, hand-painted and American-made 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, worth $80,000.

One of the greatest college and pro football stars of all time, Walker is a strong American patriot. He’s stated there are others outside of sports more deserving of hero-status in our society — especially our military active servicemen and police officers — who are not getting the credit they deserve.

A devout Christian, Walker’s faith has led to a disciplined lifestyle and inspired his desire to help others. These traits were planted and developed at a young age while growing up as one of seven children in Wrightsville, Georgia. An overweight child with a speech impediment, Walker said his mother taught him never to use these obstacles or excuses in life.

Walker still uses the disciplines he first used in high school to train, exercise and diet. Even today, at age 56, the body remains well-sculpted from the 1,500 push-ups and the 2,000 total situps he does each day. He has one full meal a day, consisting mainly of soup, bread and salads.

He has also been an advocate for mental health issues. He discussed the identity disorder in his own early life at an event hosted by Ascend Health Corporation and a local Texas chapter of Active Minds, a national organization that unites students in the goal to destigmatize mental health issues on campus and in the surrounding communities.

Concerning a more controversial topic, Walker has been a vocal opponent of the national anthem demonstrations which became widespread in the NFL after San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided not to stand — and later took a knee — during “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 2016.

Walker explained that black lives matter, but that the flag is very special and any protesting should be done in Washington AFTER the season and not in the stadiums. He said that there are young men and women fighting for the flag and that we should respect it as well as the White House.

Finally, Walker said he didn’t care what people said, but that our national anthem IS the United States of America. He said it’s where we live — where we get everything we have — and we should never protest that.

Words of wisdom from one who overcame hardships at a young age to become one of the greatest athletes this nation ever produced.

By Jim Zbick | tneditor@tnonline.com